Five questions with Sarah Cavanagh, candidate for Carleton Place council in the 2026 municipal election

Editor’s note: To help voters to be better informed, Lanarkist will be asking the same five questions of all council candidates in Carleton Place, Smiths Falls, Perth and Mississippi Mills in advance of the municipal election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. Questions were sent to all candidates on Sept. 4, 2026. We will publish their responses as we receive them. Below are the responses from candidate Sarah Cavanagh. You can view a roundup of all our Carleton Place municipal coverage here.

1. Tell us a little bit about your professional background, including any prior municipal or other political participation, as well as about you, personally. What made you want to run for council?

I am currently a part of the Carleton Place Council team. My professional background reads a bit like a Jill of all Trades. I started Ariza Consulting in 2007 and worked in the IT field as a technical writer and project manager for nearly 20 years. I also spent time working in administration and communications for a number of local non profits (including Open Doors Mental Health and currently for the Alzheimer Society Lanark Leeds Grenville).

Over the years, I have also volunteered on boards such as the Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls, the Community Development & Growth Committee of the Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce and was the general manager of the Carleton Place Winter Carnival for six years. During my current term, I have served as the chair of the Downtown Carleton Place BIA and as a director on the board of the Carleton Place Youth Centre.

I am a mom to three and grew up in Gillies Corners (Beckwith) on a farm. My family roots are deep in this area (my grandma was a Stanzel) and I attended both Caldwell and Beckwith; my youngest brother was in the first class of Notre Dame. I was married at St. James Anglican and all three of my children were baptised there (shout out to Father D!). My experience as a mom, as a farm kid and as a small business owner has made me patient, and given me the skills to approach issues calmly, with sustainability in mind, and with a collaborative spirit. I believe in building connections and in the low cost – high impact result of kindness and conversation.

In 2022, I decided to run for council because I was involved in many local boards and community programs and I wanted to see if I could do more. I see this role as one of service and an opportunity to help in a broader sense than my previous volunteer and professional roles. I decided to run for re-election because I am incredibly proud of the work I have done alongside my council team these last four years, and all that we have been able to accomplish. There are still some projects and goals that I have and I feel like this team is the best suited to represent Carleton Place for the next four years!

2. How would you describe your personal political ideology and/or affiliation?

My personal ideology, political or otherwise, is that we are all part of a community – in our towns, in our neighbourhoods, in our region and country and beyond. We survive and thrive together and from our shared goals and collaboration we can build resilient communities.

3. What are the three most common issues voters bring up to you as you campaign?

Affordability, growth and recreation.

4. What three issues are most pressing/important to address locally in your opinion?

The three brought to me by the public. My role is to represent all of the residents of Carleton Place. What is important to them is important to me, and as such I work to find ways (within my lane as part of the municipality) to address those concerns. I have worked as a writer and journalist and have learned that while my experience and skills are fundamentally important in this role, my perspective has to remain unbiased. I have to listen to and plan for what is best for the community as a whole.

5. What do you feel sets you apart from other candidates?

That’s a tough question. I like to focus on my strengths and what I know I bring to the seat. Kindness, calmness, lived experience as a parent, farmer and small business owner, connection to the region beyond just our community, collaborative relationships with many local organizations and a history of showing up and of working behind the scenes. I don’t know all that the other candidates bring to the role. I do know that my current council team has an incredible amount of experience and skill that have made our work a positive and productive term.